Civil Disobediance

Answer the following questions as completely and as thoughtfully as possible. In addition, review your classmates answers to the same questions. Choose ONE answer from a peer to respond to. Your response should be more than "I dis/agree with your answer", or "good job". If you agree, why? If you disagree, why? What did their answer make you think of? Did their answer make you rethink what you said? Discuss.

Thoreau asks somewhat rhetorically, “Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator?” What do you interpret this statement to mean? How would you answer this question?

According to Thoreau, why do unjust laws exist?

What do you think Thoreau’s message is when he writes, “After the first blush of sin comes indifference?”

Self Reliance

Answer the following questions as completely and as thoughtfully as possible. In addition, review your classmates answers to the same questions. Choose ONE answer from a peer to respond to. Your response should be more than "I dis/agree with your answer", or "good job". If you agree, why? If you disagree, why? What did their answer make you think of? Did their answer make you rethink what you said? Discuss.

Looking at the entire essay, what does Emerson mean by self-reliance? Objectively summarize Emerson's major points.

Interpret the first sentence. What does every person realize at some moment of his or her education?

Define transcendentalism as you understand it according to Emerson. Provide evidence to support your answer.

Interpret the metaphor, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesman and philosophers and divines."